Buddy Taylor

Mr. Robert Marion “Buddy” Taylor age 85, passed away Saturday June 13, 2020 at
his home surrounded by his family and friends. A graveside service will be held at
Sims Hill Cemetery on Tuesday June 16, 2020 starting at 2:00 PM. Layman Kent
Pickett will officiate. Buddy was born in Morton and lived most all his life in Scott
County. Growing up in the Morton and Kalem areas, Buddy enjoyed the
outdoors. His first love was hunting and fishing, and that love stayed with him all
of his life. In his younger days, he enjoyed dirt track racing. He bought an old
race car, and along with other Scott County friends, raced every weekend for over
7 years. He also enjoyed tinkering with old motors, cars, and anything else that
was rusty. In his later years, Buddy found a love for people that was unmatched.
Faithfully, he called many people on their birthdays each year just to wish them a
good day. He loved gathering with small groups of friends at his home for fish
fries, wild game meals or ice cream socials. He always said he was born 100 years
after his time because he loved the old ways. He especially enjoyed making cane
syrup in the fall with his sons. He made sure everyone had plenty of hot coffee
and warm biscuits for the new syrup. In the early 1950’s, while working at
Roosevelt State Park, he met his first wife, Gwyn Webb. They were married on
August 6, 1954. As the Taylor family grew, Buddy worked many different jobs:
truck driver, chicken doctor, mechanic, machinist, and boilermaker. Buddy

especially loved his work as a boilermaker, but it took him away from his family.
He was fortunate and excited to find a local job he loved even more, with more
responsibility, when he was hired as shop foreman with Molpus Lumber
Company’s new sawmill in Morton. He worked there until he was medically
retired. After Gwyn passed away in 2000, his life became empty. In 2008, Buddy
met Ms. Barbara Salers. Per Barbara, they started dating, and once they
compared their junk piles, it seemed like a match made in heaven. They were
married on July 31, 2010 and enjoyed a wonderful life together for the next 10
years until his passing. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gwyn Webb Taylor,
his parents, Jimmie and Nell Taylor, brother, Jack Taylor, and daughter, Lu-Ann
Taylor Cornelison. He is survived by his wife Barbara Salers Taylor, children Tobby
(Jackie) Taylor, Rosey (Jerry Ray) Johnson, Scotty (Sandy) Taylor, son-in-law Don
(Diannia) Cornelison, step-daughter Angie (Audie) Stewart, 8 granddaughters, 2
grandsons, 7 great-granddaughters, 6 great-grandsons and 1 great-great-
grandson.